Catiline (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Ben Jonson
- First Published: 1611
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Political
- Time of Work: 62
- Setting: Ancient Rome
- Genres: Drama, History play, Tragedy
- Subjects: Politics, Politicians, Conspiracies or conspirators, Italy or Italians, Greek or Roman times, Rome
- Locales: Rome, ancient
Characters Discussed
Catiline (KA-teh-lin), also referred to as Lucius Sergius Catilina (LEW-shee-uhs SUR-jee-uhs ka-teh- LI-nuh), a patrician traitor. Power-mad, bloodthirsty, venomous, and given to monstrous crimes, he corrupts others and draws them to his party of followers, with which he hopes to control Rome. His inhumanity is disclosed in his sacrifice of a slave and a hideous, perverted communion of the conspirators in which they drink the slave’s blood. He is, fortunately for Rome, indiscreet and hasty. Failing to win a consulate by election, he hastens his attempted...
[The entire page is 1182 words long]
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